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Enhanced laser-driven radioisotope production using a helical coil target with tube

C. L. C. Lacoste1,2,*, T. Carrière1, H. Larreur1,3, D. Batani1, D. Raffestin1, P. Antici2, E. D’Humières1, P. Nicolaï1, and M. Bardon1

  • *Contact author: clement.lacoste@u-bordeaux.fr, clement.lacoste@inrs.ca
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Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 28, 093401 – Published 9 September, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/fg53-l53v

Abstract

We present a comprehensive study unveiling advancements in α particle spectra manipulation that can be achieved through the implementation of a helical coil target with tube (HCT). Leveraging particle-in-cell simulations, we demonstrate the ability to control the energy distribution of α particle bunches within a narrow range, down to a few MeV. This development marks the first instance of successful ion energy manipulation facilitated by the HCT configuration. Importantly, our investigations reveal a significant enhancement in radioisotope production, with yields ranging from 10 to 3000 times greater with an HCT than without. These findings underscore the transformative potential of the HCT approach in improving α particle production in the context of laser-plasma acceleration and its consequential impact on radioisotope production for diverse applications. We also investigate the production of radioisotopes using proton acceleration with the HCT configuration and demonstrate that the yield can be increased by a factor of 30.

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Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 28, 093401– Published 9 September, 2025
  • Received 10 January 2025
  • Accepted 22 July 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

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